The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-08
BOIL YOUR DRINKING WATER
Doctors Agree that 1t Is Now an Advis-
able Precaution Against Disease.
They Very Widely Disagree, However, in
Their Views on Prof. Collects Theories
And the Causes Of Typhoid Fever.

the probability of future increase of unhealthy
matter in It, have been very general topics of con-
rersation In the city for several weeks past but
particularly since the publication of Professor
Collects theory of the effect of the drought on
the purity of the water. Among physicians
there is almost much divergence of opinion as
30 the health status of the city as there Is con-
serning the causes of the various epidemic dis
eases, but so far can be discovered there is a
unanimous opinion with them that it is advis-
able to boil all drinking water before using it
Non-professional people almost unanimously ac-
cept this view--at least TO the extent of saying
that 1t is not much trouble TO boil the water,
and it cannot do any harm. Journal reporter
yesterday asked several physicians OF the city
FOR their views
To an inquiry az to what he thought of Pro-
lessor Collects theory, DIR. T. B. Harvey said:
'It strikes being very plausible in some
respects, though would not undertake to pro-
nounce on the accuracy of the scientific propo-
sitions advanced. do not see why an increase
of animal and vegetable decomposition in the
earth would not result in an increased amount
of organic matter in the water supply. My be-
lief is that typhoid fever is caused by organic
poisons, not by living germs, many physi-
clans claim"
einityl"
''My observation is that there is There has
been great deal of fever during this drought,
and attribute it largely to the water, though
there are doubtless other causes. When the
water supply is lessened the drainage is from a
greater distance. For instance IL the bottom of
the first water level is twenty feet below the
surface. and the water stands ten feet deep in
. well, the earth is presumably saturated with
water 20 that extent, and the drainage is
through the remaining ten feet from the sur
face If this surface drainage is cut off by
drought, as the water is taken from the well it
flows in from the sides, and a sink vault
fifty or hundred feet away, in which typhoid
poison has been placed, that might not ordinari-
IL have any effect on the WELL might in this way
drain to it"
stWilI ir benefit drnking-water any TO boil it7"
ayes, sir I would advise that all drinking
water be boiled in closed vessels so as to get as
high q degree of heat as possible and inferred
through charcoal The water from deep-driven
wells OF the second level think is healthful in
its natural condition"
Have you any recollection OF epldemics after
seasons of drouehtP
mot particularly. Our sickliest seasons are
the wet and hot ones began practicing in this
State in 1851. We had large amount of cry
sipelas and diphtheria in the spring of that year
and an unusual amount of typhoid that fall and
for several years afterward. In 1856 we had
usual typhoid in the fall
DR.. @. E. Wright. when asked for his opin-
ions. said he could not be interviewed.
s'Weli, do you think there is danger of dis
from TIE drinking water of the cityP
asked the reporter.
s.I think there is more danger from dust than
from water When the air is filled with dust
we are continually breathing in animal organ
asms."
..How can that be remedied7"
1T may be partially remeded by sprinkling."
"Is it beneficial TO boil drinkng-warerf'
az think so but if it is boiled it should be
poured from one vessel to another. or other
wise aeitated, in order to get air into it"
DR.. Henry Jameson did not take any stock in
Professor Collects theory. He said. Typhoid
must have q certain soil or surrounding outside
of the human body to reach the condition in
which it produces damaging effects. Whatever
tends TO put the water or the earth's surface In
such condition that those germs will grow
will OF course produce typhoid and all other in
fictitious diseases dependent on germs The best
scientists to-day accept the germ theory. These
germs may be introduced into the body by dust
in time of drought, but think that heavy rains
following drought would be beneficial. instead
OF detrimental. because they would wash away
impurities and reduce the temperature. Below
75o Fahrenheit the majority OF germs be-
come dormant and do not multiply. They may
revive when the warmth is renewed"
tions for the development of these germs9"
1T probably would. They multiply and
assume their dangerous character when ia a
enstruum favorably conditioned. whether 1t
be EARTH air water. The tendency OF drought
is to produce a settled. unchanging condition in
all three, for time. IL the water supply is
lessened, it is less subject TO motion and moro
favorable to decomposition, and SO it would
afford better menstruum"
SIS there much typhoid here nowF
''In my own practice there is more in the last
few weeks than l ever knew before. There has
been a great deal of diphtheria here Also"
"Will boiling destroy these germs in water2'
SIT will destroy nearly all, il not ali of them.
In my opinion drinking water ought 70 be
boiled filtered"
When asked for his opinion of Professor Col
let's theory, Dr. A. Maxwell said: lit looks
reasonable enough, but theories are guess work
until you get facts to sustain them. There has
been q great deal of diphtheria here, and it has
hung unusually through the summer. Pos
sibly that may have been due to the transmits
sion of the disease through the dust in the air.
'.Does it do any good to boil drinking water2"
eyes. the impurities in it greatly lessened,
il not wholly removed, by boiling"
DR. J. H. Oliver was asked for his views, but
himself on record makes q mistake, Tor after
awhile it is learned that he was wrong, aud he
has way of getting out of it.
s'You have had considerable typhoid at the
City Hospital, haven't you2" asked the reporter.
Yes"
what kind of water do You use there2'
s'Water-wo water, exclusively"
''What produced the typhoid at the hospital?"
''Most of the cases are brought there after the
disease is developed. OF course we take every
precaution to disinfect everything that comes in
contact with the patient"
DIR. p. II. Jameson is q scoffer at the Collettian
theory, particularly the years Of drought,
1850, 1852, and 1856. which were mentioned.
He said, THE summer OF 1850 the wettest
season ever The wheat sprouted in the
shocks, and the Bates House cellar-it then
Just commenced-was filed with water. We
had an unhealthy year in 1851 It rather
dry and very healthy in 1852; 1858. It
was very hot and dry in 1854. and very sickly. |
It was very wet and unhealthy in 1855, and it |
was rather dry and healthy in 1856
do you think it advisable to boil drinking
water?"
SIT is Boiling kills the bacteria"
Dr. L. d. Waterman asked for his opin-
ION on Professor Collects theory. He said. IF |
would not like to express opinion as am |
not sufficiently acquainted with the facts |
which he bases it to judge of it's correctness"
rs thers much typhoid fever herep was |
asked.
Speaking from my own practice. l have |
had many of fever within the past three |
months, but none of typhoid. though they have |